Hudson newbie

[kiltiii]

I searched the forum without much luck, so I wonder if anyone has some advice for a newbie on fishing from a yak in the Hudson. A friend has three kayaks he uses, mostly launching at Cold Spring, and he wants to get out and try fishing there.

We'd have spinning and fly rods (9 wt.and 5 wt.) with sinking lines. I'm dying to try it but I have no idea if the Hudson is really fish-able up there from a yak.

Any help would be most appreciated.

[ruge13]

Certainly is! I grew up a litte farther north around the Kingston Bridge so I am not familiar with that area but definately get out there, especially durring the spring Striper run. Find RJ through this board. He is the Hudson expert and I am sure he would answer any questions you may have. Try local shops too for launch spots in your area. Also, search the archives on the New York Forum. In past seasons there have been some good reports and infor regarding that area. I would ask there too, since they are familiar with that area. Good luck. I know when I fished up north, Stripers in the spring. Summer months were largemouth in the tributaries and weeds along the banks and islands. There used to be a run of channel cats as well, heard of some decent ones in the 10+ lb range I believe. I don't know the time frame though.
Do not underestimate the Carp. The river is full of them and they fight like crazy.

[smallboat4]

Shaun, where did you grow up? I'm from the Millbrook area myself and try to get back as much as possible. You're not of the Subaru fame?

Kilti, definitely gotta hit the spring striper run around the end of May. There's a lot of cows heading up river to do their thing.....

[ruge13]

As a matter of fact I am! that was my father, now my uncle owns the franchise. I am from Rhinebeck. Small world.

[RJ]

Kiltiii,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Hudson River fishing.

At last count there are somewhere between 201 and 251 different fish species swiming in your part of the river at one time our another during the year.

Your coming into chilli weather. Definately time to put the kilt away and dig out the thews!

I'm a yaker too and fishing for stripers in the spring is more live bait or chunk fishery with Spinning gear. I throw large herring fly imitations at them with a 9, 10 or 12 wt. but have more success with live or chunk herring in the spring. You are living in the lap of Black Bassville. The Hudson River has a ton of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Enough to attract one to two national Pro Bass or Bass Master tourneys a year. Catskill (My part of the River) is the center of that fishery but you have a ton of them in the marshes south of Cold Spring. and the tributaries that flow into the river on your side of it.

The Croton River, Wappengers Creek, and numerous smaller ones. On the western shore, Black Creek south of Kingston is definately worth a visit with a yak. Stripers, black bass, perch, carp various catfish and the occasional walleye can be found in most of them. Walleyes are numerous in the Wallkill River and the Espous Flats south of Kingston are a fly fishing mecca for the spring striper run.

The NY State Inland Striped BAss record of 49-inches and 55-pounds was caught just north of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge
this past May.

The 54-pound, 6 ounce previous record was caught from
shore at the Rhinecliff Railroad station Dock the year before.

Fisherman,s World in Wappengers will be a good place to start your Hudson River Education. Check out Boating on the Hudson's .com site for more fishing information. Check their archives for fishing how to articles. There should be a yaking organization near you too. They might have an angler or too in their midst. Be careful in choosing your paddling pals. Remember PETA wanted to change Fishkill, NY's name to Fishsave! Oy vie! Such sillyness!

Smallmouth bass and their larger cousing are prime targets right now. It won't last much longer, but if you get a warm day, try it. Spinner crakbaits, Senko plastic worms and Pop-R plugs (small) shoud work for you. Largemout can be found in deeper hole in the back bays and Smallmouth bass are cruising the creeks in packs feeding on just about anything they come across. There may be some stripers in your area too. Some of them hang out all summer in the upper reaches and follow the shad and herring babys down the river and out to sea in the fall.

Check out www.noreast.com - It is Noreast Saltwater Magazine. I write their Hudson River weekly column from March to the last week in October. Check out the striped bass archives. Check out the Hudson River archives on this site (reel-time)for a couple of years worth of "casting pearls before swine" Oink, oink! Jjust type in Hudson River and it will all be yours to feed upon for the winter.

If you need any more info you can reach me at duckboat@mhcable.com

The long winter wait will be worth it!

Slante',

:cool: :-%

[kiltiii]

Many thanks for all the excellent advice. I may play hooky tomorrow and head out. It would be a pity to waste this amazing weather indoors.

My fishing mania reaches a true peak in November and after a beautiful but nearly fish-less Sunday on Jamaica Bay, the Hudson may be just the ticket.

Thanks again. I'll be tuning in to spring reports.